Is it too early to create a thread for this??? Well, I have done so anyway…
Hey have you started the application yet? and what region are you applying to? I’m CIEE 
Hey, I’m with CIEE too! I was a semi-finalist last year, but I didn’t get in, so I’m applying again this year. I started the application today. 
@elisabethashton How many semifinalists does CIEE usually pick? and do you know how many apply?
@JoaquimC last year there were about 80 semifinalists. they wouldn’t say how many applied but I heard it was over 1000. Unfortunately CIEE is a very competitive region. what grade are you in?
I’m a CBYX alum, if anyone wants to ask general questions! (or look into your future? lol) I did the program 2000-2001 with CIEE
@elisabethashton Wow that’s a lot. I’m a sophomore what about you?
@proudterrier Hey, any good application tips?
OK! So as much as it is important to show your personality and be true to yourself, there are some points you shouldn’t over emphasize, specifically: boyfriends/girlfriends and how much you will miss them (it’s a super red flag that someone is too connected to home and won’t adjust well abroad). Really anything on your app that shows that you are TOO emotionally connected to home is bad. Religion and it being the most important thing to you (religion is cool, but if you are so devout you can’t handle a) other religions or b) being away from your religion, you’re not a good candidate for study abroad, and especially secular Germany). Really anything that makes you seem close-minded is bad. I mention the religion thing specifically because I briefly (ie: one time LOL) helped CIEE interview applicants after I’d returned, and there was one kid who was so focused on his faith (both in his app and on the phone) that I was genuinely concerned he wouldn’t be able to cope in Germany. I said as much and my recommendation post interview was to reject him, unfortunately.
The traits they’re looking for in ideal applicants: mature, open-minded, independent, open to new experiences, good representations of America (which can cover a LOT of ground/traits–they want diversity of experiences and backgrounds–but generally you can’t be overly arrogant or cocky). So you need to craft a portrait of yourself that fits those traits, but of course is still true to yourself.
And once you get past the first stage, how you perform in your group interview is very important. They want to see how you do in a group/social/interactive environment. Doesn’t mean you have to be the “alpha” of the group–in fact the “alpha” in my group interview didn’t get selected. But you do need to engage in some way so they can get a sense of how you’d do abroad. Can you balance listening with participating? Can you engage respectfully with others on complex topics? And then in your one-on-one, they WILL ask you about how you’ll cope with homesickness (I think that’s on the app, too), and it’s a VERY important question that you should answer thoughtfully.
@JoaquimC I’m a sophomore too!
@proudterrier Wow that was helpful, thanks! Are grades really important when applying?
@elisabethashton Cool, what state are you from?
I can’t speak with absolute authority, but CBYX is an elite/competitive scholarship, so I think it’s fair to say that GPA is important. You need to show you are academically sound because weak students will NOT survive a year abroad of foreign language study. I was semi-fluent (2 years German in high school) and a 4.0 UW GPA student, and I found full German immersion academics HARD. I took my classes pass/fail and got by by the skin of my teeth in some subjects–and honestly I don’t think I retained a single piece of useful information from my German Physics class (don’t tell my high school XD). On the plus side, CBYX is not there to hand hold you–they don’t care if you’re the best student ever in your German high school (ie: they don’t track your grades, or didn’t when I was there at least)–but you need to be able to function generally otherwise your German high school could say no to taking future students. You have to strike a middle ground, and if you’re used to working hard in school (and your grades reflecting that aptitude), you’ll have a better go of it.
So I was a 4.0 GPA kid and so were several other kids in my year, BUT they weren’t all “perfect” students. There is range. I’d say GPA is not a dealbreaker, but it is a factor taken into consideration.
@JoaquimC I’m from Georgia, you?
@elisabethashton I’m from Puerto Rico, did they accept many people from here last year?
@elisabethashton I’m from Puerto Rico, did they accept many people from here last year?
@elisabethashton I’m from Puerto Rico, did they accept many people from here last year?
@elisabethashton I’m from Puerto Rico, did they accept many people from here last year?
@elisabethashton I’m from Puerto Rico, how many semifinalists did they select from here last year?
@elisabethashton I’m from Puerto Rico, how many semifinalists did they select from here last year?